Michigan, USA – Publisher, author, and journalist Donna Gundle-Krieg releases “From Desert to Detroit.” The book is an award winning educational story about a young Detroit Chaldean named Nadia Sefro and her family leaving a country in turmoil to a country of dreams. However, the Sefro family find themselves facing a new set of challenges in Detroit.

This story takes place during the time of the 911 disaster from the point of view of the child Nadia. The book is filled with interesting characters of all ages. The book is recommended for ages 8 to adult, with particular appeal for those in 3rd through 6th grade, and contains valuable social studies lessons.

The book’s back cover explains, when Nadia Sefro and her family come to Detroit from Iraq, they hope to improve their life and get away from the many problems of the “old country.”

However, life in Detroit presents the family with a new set of challenges. Nadia’s older siblings Mark and Maryam have a terrible time adjusting o their new schools, and neither can seem to make friends. Nadia makes many new friends, but never gets to play with them because she has to work at the family store.

Then the real problems begin. Maryam is held up by armed robbers one night as she is working the cash register. Nadia’s friends all turn against her when they associate her family with terrorists who kill many people in New York City. Then the unthinkable happens: someone who is angry at all Middle Eastern people sets fire to the family store, destroying everything they own.

As the fire ravages their home and business, Nadia and her sister Maryam are the only hope to save their family members. Will all seven Sefros escape? How will they manage to survive after they lose everything they own? Will their friends and neighbors support hem, or will they continue to associate the Sefros with terrorists?

“From Desert to Detroit” is a story of hope and new beginnings, of forgiveness and love our so-called enemies. Hopefully this will forever change the perception of children and adults who believe that all Middle Eastern people are inherently evil.

To order an author signed copy of the book, please e-mail blitzkriegpublishing@comcast.net and copy info@chaldean.org to receive a discount.

Rev. Jacob Yasso was born in the village of Telkaif, Iraq. After completing high school he was recruited to Rome and Urbaniana University where he completed his Masters Degree in philosophy and Theology. Fr. Yasso was ordained a priest in 1960 and served the Diocese of Mosul, where he worked in the public school system. Fr. Yasso was also asked by the Patriarch to teach at the Patriarchal Seminary in Baghdad, where he served as administrator, professor of philosophy and religious life, and rector of the minor seminary.

In 1964, Fr. Yasso was appointed to the United States to serve the growing Chaldean community in Detroit. There he served as the 4th Pastor of Mother of God Parish. . In 1972, the Patriarch charged Fr. Yasso with building a new parish for the Chaldeans in Detroit. In taking great pains to care for the community Fr. Yasso accelerated the development of a new church and community center. In 1975, Fr. Yasso completed the development of Sacred Heart Parish in Detroit and shortly thereafter he added the Chaldean Center of America in 1980,

A few years later in 1982, Fr. Yasso was asked to assist the late Fr. Kattoula at St. Peter’s Church in San Diego, CA. Before long, Fr. Yasso was once again recruited to Rome to study new Canon Law of the Church. While in Rome Fr. Yasso completed his third Masters Degree in Church Law, making him the only Chaldean priest trained in Canon Law.

In 1988, the Patriarch and Vatican authorities asked Fr. Yasso to travel to Canada and establish a parish and community center. While there he served as a Tribunal Judge for the Archdiocese of Toronto. Four years later Fr. Yasso returned to Sacred Heart church in Detroit to help care for the remaining Chaldean community residence in the Detroit area. To this day, Fr. Yasso continues to serve as the parish pastor creating activities and advising the City of Detroit on community related matters.

Fr. Yasso is a member of the International WYCLIF Bible translators, since 1975, and has completed the translation of the New Testament from Greek and Aramaic into Arabic and spoken Chaldean. The publication of his scholarly work is set to be released soon.